On Wednesday, 28 October 2009, we learned that Ms. Berlanty Azzam, a Bethlehem University student studying business administration and translation, was arrested by the Israeli military.

On Thursday, 29 October 2009, we spoke with Berlanty via mobile phone and learned that on Wednesday night at 11:00pm the Israeli military loaded her into a military jeep - blindfolded and handcuffed - and moved her from Bethlehem to Gaza - against her will.

Since August 2005, Berlanty, a 21 year old Christian woman, has been a student at Bethlehem University. "Since 2005, I refrained from visiting my family in Gaza for fear that I would not be permitted to return to my studies in the West Bank," said Berlanty. "Now, just two months before graduation, I was arrested and taken to Gaza in the middle of the night, with no way to finish my degree." Berlantyis scheduled to complete her bachelor degree in December 2009.

Why was she removed from Bethlehem (in the West Bank and not in Israel) and taken to Gaza? Just because her address in the Israeli-controlled Population Registry is listed in the Gaza Strip- but she lives in Bethlehem and has done so since the year 2005.

We need your help. Berlanty needs your help. What can you do to help?

RIGHT NOW, please send an email to:

Ø The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Avigdor Liberman): sar@mfa.gov.ilThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Ø The Israeli Minister of Religious Affairs (Mr. Yaakov Margi): yakovm@dat.gov.ilThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Ø Your elected representatives in your home country.
Let them know that you demand that the Israeli military immediately return Berlanty Azzam to Bethlehem so that she can resume and complete her last few weeks of studies to complete her bachelors degree at the Vatican-sponsored Bethlehem University.
Visit our website (www.bethlehem.edu) and Gisha (www.gisha.org) for more updates.